Expansion Draft List: Columbus Crew

Moving forward once again in our expansion draft coverage. Today we take a look at the Supporter’s Shield winning Columbus Crew. More than likely we will see a player picked from this bunch, anytime you go through the regular season and are as good as the Crew were this year you will most certainly see a player picked off in an expansion draft. New teams want players from successful teams.

Now some of this could change with some possible retirements of veteran players but even so those players will probably still be protected no matter what.

No doubt this is one of the tougher clubs to figure out with all the good talent on the roster.

Protected

Available

Exempt

Guillermo Barros Schelotto

Kevin Burns

Eric Brunner

Cory Elenio

Brian Carroll

Jason Garey

Emmanuel Ekpo

Eddie Gaven

Frankie Hejduk

Alex Grendi

William Hesmer

Andy Gruenebaum

Steven Lenhart

Andy Iro

Chad Marshall

Adam Moffat

Danny O’Rourke

Alejandro Moreno

Gino Padula

Stanley Nyazamba

Robbie Rogers

Duncan Oughton

Emilio Renteria

Jed Zayner

Do you protect the aging Hejduk? If so do you not protect the younger and upcoming Zayner? What about Moreno? For me I put Moreno under the unprotected list in place of Lenhart. Some reason I found Lenhart as a guy that could be picked by Philly and Moreno to be a guy with a high contract that Philly would not take.

Another guy I wonder about is Andy Iro who I still think has potential to be real special in this league. Do you leave him unprotected as well?

I may go back on this club before the draft because of all the ifs here. You really could make your case for a few guys on the unprotected list.

See anyone I was completely off on here? Let’s hear it.

mike

Hi! I am an MLS fan from the UK. This whole contract/transfer businees of US soccer is the one aspect I struggle to get my head around!! Is there any chance you could explain how a player become protected/available/exempt? Thanks! Mike

mike

Hi!

I am an MLS fan from the UK. This whole contract/transfer businees of US soccer is the one aspect I struggle to get my head around!! Is there any chance you could explain how a player become protected/available/exempt?

Thanks!

Mike

Colin

Hey thanks for showing us the love. This list pertains to players available for the expansion draft when Philly joins the league. They are allowed to take 11 players in the expansion draft and no more than 1 player per team. Teams are allowed to protect 11 players. The exempt players are generation addidas. This is a program the underclassman in college or high school students are offered that promises to pay for their education if they cant make football a profession. By these rules they are not available for expansion drafts. Now transfers are a whole new ball game. All MLS contracts are owned by the league itself. So its very difficult to sell and buy players because not only do the teams have to agree on the fees the league does as well. This is why MLS doesn't buy players very often and usually tries to grab them on free transfers. Hope this helps

Jonny

Mike, as a US fan of MLS and EPL, I love you. However, the MLS rules are so strange that not even us US folks get it. It is just crazy. Basically, you can only protect 11 players, the other players can be picked by the expansion team in philly for next year. That is how it works. Protect teh best 11 and let the others be subject to being picked.

Jonny

Mike, as a US fan of MLS and EPL, I love you. However, the MLS rules are so strange that not even us US folks get it. It is just crazy. Basically, you can only protect 11 players, the other players can be picked by the expansion team in philly for next year. That is how it works. Protect teh best 11 and let the others be subject to being picked.

Colin

Hey thanks for showing us the love. This list pertains to players available for the expansion draft when Philly joins the league. They are allowed to take 11 players in the expansion draft and no more than 1 player per team. Teams are allowed to protect 11 players. The exempt players are generation addidas. This is a program the underclassman in college or high school students are offered that promises to pay for their education if they cant make football a profession. By these rules they are not available for expansion drafts. Now transfers are a whole new ball game. All MLS contracts are owned by the league itself. So its very difficult to sell and buy players because not only do the teams have to agree on the fees the league does as well. This is why MLS doesn't buy players very often and usually tries to grab them on free transfers. Hope this helps

Joseph D'Hippolito

I would leave Heyduk unprotected and put either Zayner or Gaven in his place. Heyduk's age and contract make him less likely to be picked than either Gaven or Zayner. If Gaven's unprotected, I'd expect Philadelphia to draft him because he's a young veteran who would be invaluable to the Union. Plus, he's from the East Coast.

Joseph D'Hippolito

I would leave Heyduk unprotected and put either Zayner or Gaven in his place. Heyduk's age and contract make him less likely to be picked than either Gaven or Zayner. If Gaven's unprotected, I'd expect Philadelphia to draft him because he's a young veteran who would be invaluable to the Union. Plus, he's from the East Coast.

SDM

While I think Zayner and Renteria need to be protected, I bet my bottom dollar Philly takes Moffat from that list.

SDM

While I think Zayner and Renteria need to be protected, I bet my bottom dollar Philly takes Moffat from that list.